His Embrace

"His Embrace" 

That's what this piece of art is called. 

I have this artwork in my bedroom and I see it almost every day. However, most recently, it has hit me differently. I'll explain why, but I need to give some background first. 

This year I decided to study and read the Book of Mormon with the perspective of how to become a better parent. That's my goal for my personal study.  As I've read, I've been taking notes on the parenting lessons I'm learning in the Book of Mormon. It's been an eye opening and tender experience and it hasn't even been a month yet. 
Because I feel like I've been reading and studying with this intent, I feel like I've been more sensitive to promptings that felt like small, little things but have been changing my daily life as a mother. 

The first small change was to start reading the actual scripture verses of the Book of Mormon together as a family. At the beginning of the year I heard a quote that struck me so hard that I immediately knew we had to make a change.

Here is the quote from President Marion G Romney, 

 'I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness' (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).

 

So with those amazing promises in mind, we made a change. It wasn't a big change but it was a change. We went from using the animated come follow me lesson and scripture summaries I printed weekly, to reading the Book of Mormon verse by verse.  
Was doctrine being taught with the lesson summaries and cute animated pictures- YES! 

Will I continue to use them to teach- YES!

But there is power in the words of the Book of Mormon and we were missing it. 
So we changed our habit and started reading from the scriptures, verse by verse. We left the cute printables and fun games and activities for our Sunday lessons. 

 

The second little change was made after our winter break and before returning to school at the beginning of January. I felt strongly that we needed a new approach to our bedtime routine. This didn't feel like a huge revelation and it really didn't even feel like the spirit was speaking to me. I really thought it was just an idea that I had and wanted to try. 

So the idea was to start a staggered bedtime routine. Maybe lots of people are already doing this and I had considered it before, so that's why it didn't feel like anything groundbreaking for us. 

But we started doing this and while it was a hard start, it's a great routine for our kiddos. So our kids now go to bed at thirty minute intervals. 

 

Finally, the last little change we made was just this week. On Sunday I felt inspired that we needed to start our day with our children by reading the scriptures. It was important to us to read each day and sometimes the nights are too crazy and we aren't together. However, we are always together in the mornings before school. I thought this would be a better time to ensure we didn't miss a day. So we started waking our kids up 10 minutes earlier to read the Book of Mormon together. 

Now, this is where it gets good. I felt prompted to write this blog post today because it's my family's journal and it felt important that I make note of these tender mercies I've experiences because of these changes. Because I don't want to forget them, I'm writing it down. I also believe that when we recognize the good, the good not only gets better but more apparent. 

It gets easier to recognize the blessings  when you do it more often. Practice makes perfect, right?

How did the first tiny change bless our family?

After reading that quote by Pres. Romney to my kids, I asked each kid if they would like those blessings? I asked them which blessing they wanted the most. Each kid told me what they wanted and I asked them if they would be willing to put the effort in to receive those blessings.  They hesitantly answered yes and we started to read the Book of Mormon daily together, verse by verse. 

Over the last few weeks, since starting this habit, we've had less fighting. Not no fighting, but less. 

We've had sweet moments of compassion and love. We've had secret acts of service done without need of recognition. We've had more snuggles, hugs and words of appreciation. We've had discussions after disagreements followed by forgiveness.  We've had opportunities to grow as parents with our kids as we approach situations with more love and less frustration.  It's been small, little things but the more I look for them, the more I see them. 

The second change has been hard to implement because my kids have been on vacation mode for so long that bedtimes are hard. But as we spend individual time tucking each kid in at their appointed bedtime, we have more chances for conversation and bonding. 

This has happened multiple times but let me just write one example that was extra sweet. 

One night after our Family Home Evening, it was time for Benson to go to bed. He's the youngest and he goes to bed first. We said prayers, I gave him a hug and Chris took him into his room to lay down and snuggle for a while. 

I decided to sit on the couch after they left and I just opened my scriptures back up. I had used them to teach our lesson a few minutes earlier, so they were still on the couch next to me. I opened them up to keep studying and Tucker saw me. He then asked if he could read his scriptures with me. 
Of course I said yes. My mommy heart was thrilled. 

Then he asked me "Are Mormons Christians"?

I asked him if he knew what a Christian was and he answered no. I explained that a Christian was someone who believe in Jesus Christ and his role as our Savior. I then asked him if he is a Christian. 
He sweetly nodded his head and then I felt inspired to tell him to open his Book of Mormon and use the new red marking pencil I had given him to mark every time he sees the name Jesus Christ or another name used for him. 
He sat next to me for the next 20 minutes and marked in his scriptures. When it was time for his appointed bedtime I asked him to show me his scriptures and we marveled at all the red on his pages. 
Jesus is everywhere in the Book of Mormon and it was a tender mercy to witness him getting to have that realization. 
That little experience would not have happened if I would have sent him to bed at the same time as his younger brother. It simply would not have been possible to have that experience. 
I know that staggered bedtimes aren't for every family. But because of the small prompting I had to start this new routine for our family, I am having little experiences with my kids that are strengthening our relationships and our testimonies. 

The last change we made has just been recently but I can sincerely tell a change in our family. 
We are waking up 10 minutes earlier to read the Book of Mormon verse by verse before school. 
This has been the hardest sell for my kids. They don't like early mornings but each morning this week that we have read together, there has been less frustration, less arguing and we are getting ready faster. 
I really feel that by consecrating our time each morning reading the Book of Mormon, the rest of our morning is going way better. We are getting ready faster and if I didn't know better, I would think God is slowing down the clock. The last two mornings we were ready with 5-10 minutes to spare. 
If you have school-aged kids then you know how miraculous this truly is. 

Now, back to the artwork at the beginning of my post. Because of these small changes that I'm convinced the spirit prompted me to make, I have felt my Savior's arms around me and my family more. I can feel his loving support of me and my efforts. That picture doesn't feel like just a hug with Christ, it feels like the woman, maybe a mother like me, is being upheld by his arms. 
He is lending her strength to keep going even when it feels pointless and fruitless. 
He's holding her up when her strength is exhausted. 

I'm so very grateful for my Savior who knows me. He loves me in all my imperfections. 

Just to keep things honest here, It's been a really hard month for me personally. 

At the end of December I started looking for a new anxiety medication and it's been really difficult process. Between side effects and having to wait the trial period and then wean off the meds when they aren't the right fit, it's exhausting.  
My hormones are unbalanced, my emotions are high and I'm anxious and irritable because I haven't found the right medication yet. My anxiety is making it hard for me to feel like myself and sometimes I don't like who I am.  

Not to mention, some really difficult things have happened that have had me on my knees in tears. 

 But through all that- my Savior is holding onto me. Not only holding on and holding me up, but speaking to me.  He is sending his love through little thoughts of inspiration that he knows will make life just a little easier for me. Small little changes that will allow for tender mercies- easier bedtimes, sweet exchanges with my kids, testimony strengthening discussions and bonding.

He knew what the results would be in my life when he inspired the changes. 

He knows me. He loves me. He loves each of his children. Just ask Him. He will tell you!

 

Adult Prom

The last two years a sweet lady in my stake has put together an "Adult Prom" and although we didn't get to go last year, I really wanted to go this year. 

So my sweet husband put together the cutest "prom-posal" 

He brought me box of donuts one morning and left it on my bed before going to work. 

When I opened the box it read "Roses are Red. Doughnuts are the bomb. Will you go with me to the prom?" 

Check Yes or No. 

Isn't that the cutest? He knows how much I love donuts. Obviously I had to say YES!

So then on Saturday night we got all dolled up and went to dinner

We went to "Table on 6th" an it was delicious. We both really enjoyed our food. 

Then we headed off to the "Prom"

Naturally Prom pictures make for the full experience. 

We also had to get  some group shots

We had such a great time. We laughed and danced and laughed some more. It was seriously so much fun. 
I told Chris that I would love to take a dance class with him. I just love dancing and he doesn't love it like I do. 

But he was a great sport and we had a fantastic time. 

It was so fun to get dressed up together and have a fancy night out. 
Can't wait for next year's prom!

Love this man of mine!

 

Snow Day

After getting home from Branson on Monday,  we discovered that school had been cancelled for the following day. So yesterday we had a good old fashioned snow day. 

We had  a great time playing in the snow and sledding down our driveway. We do have the best driveway for snow day fun. 

I'm really hoping we don't have too many more snow days because we don't have any snow days built into our school calendar and so any days we take off are added to the end of our school year. 

We played and drank hot cocoa and watched a movie. It was a very nice day off but fingers crossed we don't miss any more days!

Big Cedar with Nanny and Papa

We just got home from a super fun weekend in Branson with Nanny and Papa. 

It was a three day weekend and we booked a 2 bedroom unit at a lodge at Big Cedar with our Bluegreen points. Big Cedar is a big resort on the lake and its beautiful. 
We met at Big Cedar and got settled and then went to eat at "Gettin' Basted". It's a BBQ place on the strip in Branson. The portions were massive and the food was good. Chris really enjoyed it and can't wait to go back again. 

He got the brisket and really loved it. 

That night we just hung out and talked. The kids got settled into their beds and eventually went to bed. 

Saturday morning Chris and I went to  Bluegreen meeting and then we took the kids to "Fun Mountain".

Fun Mountain is a small amusement park on property at Big Cedar and we were able to just take the shuttle there. The kids loved the shuttle. It was cute to see their excitement. 

We gave each kid a play card and they had the best time. 
Tucker and Bailey did the flip zone first. These are like bumper cars but when you crash into each other the car spin around and upside down. The kids had so much fun. 

Then the kids did the spin zone. These are bumper cars that spin in circles when they get hit. They also light up and it was so fun to watch the kids play.

After we did the bumper cars the kids played on the play structure. There was a fun netting structure to climb on and a couple of slides. 

The boys had fun hanging upside down and then falling onto the netting. It made me nervous but they are wild and had a great time. 

Then Nanny and Papa met us at the arcade and we played some games. 

The picture of Benson playing cracks me up so much. He always sticks his tongue out when he is really concentrating. 

 

Then the boys played laser tag with Nanny and Papa. 
Chris and I were able to watch on a screen and we were laughing so hard watching them all run around and trying to dodge each other. They had a great time. 

Then we went out to eat at "Cheddars" and everyone really enjoyed their meals. 
We grabbed a couple cartons of ice cream afterwards and we went back to the lodge to eat and chill.

The boys also really enjoyed the jacuzzi tub. 

Sunday morning found us snowed in and church was cancelled in Branson. 

We decided to watch some Book of Mormon videos and we had a little "Come Follow Me" lesson. 
We snuggled in our pjs and kept ourselves warm with hot cocoa and a nice fire in the fireplace. 

It was so pretty to watch the snow fall and it's always more enjoyed to watch the snow with hot cocoa in hand. 

We spent the day snuggled up, playing games and eating snacks. 
It was a really nice and relaxed day. The snow kept falling all day. 

By the next morning when we were ready to check out there was about 5 inches on the ground. 

The property at Big Cedar was gorgeous all covered in snow.  

Happily, the property kept the roads plowed and we were able to get out without a problem. 

Nanny and Papa decided to head home and try to beat the next round of snow.

We decided to risk the roads and we drove over to "Fritz". 
Fritz is an indoor adventure place where you can both zipline and rock climb. 
We've been there before and had a great time, so the kids were really excited to go back. 

It was fun that the kids were all tall enough and brave enough to do the "Sky Trail" 

Tanner and Bailey decided to pay a little extra and did the zipline too. 
I was surprised because Tanner offered to pay for Bailey to do it, so she would go with him. 
They actually had a lot of fun together and I was so proud of them.

I loved watching Tanner instruct an encourage Bailey. 
She got nervous and wasn't sure she could finish. The picture of Tanner giving her a "thumbs up" warms my heart. 

Bailey and Tanner both completed the entire course and I was totally impressed. 
Last time we went to Fritz both Chris and I did the zipline course and it was really intense. 

Meanwhile, while the older two did the zipline, the younger boys had a great time playing together. The loved the playground and the tunnels. They completed the scavenger hunt and won stickers as their prizes. 

We had a blast and the kids weren't ready to leave when we finally drug them away. 

We wanted to get home before dark because we weren't sure what the road conditions were. 

It was such a fun weekend in Branson. We were so happy that Nanny and Papa could join us and spend the weekend with us. 

We love Branson and we are really enjoying having our Bluegreen Vacation Club to use. 

Can't wait to go back to Branson again!